3 San Diego Padres players who will survive the trade deadline but won't be back next season

After winning each of their first two games against the Texas Rangers, the San Diego Padres are in a tough spot when it comes to the trade deadline. At 51-54, the Padres trail the third Wild Card spot by just 5.5 games ... which isn't an unreasonable amount of ground to make up in two months, but they've also shown no consistency with their play all season long.

The team is obviously extremely talented, but has dramatically underperformed. They've been attempting to play catch up all season long and every time it feels like they'll make a run, they go through a rough stretch.

It's unclear as of now whether they buy or sell. They have the talent to win, but also enter today just 1.5 games ahead of the Mets who have begun their fire sale. San Diego is closer to the Mets than they are to the Cubs, one of four teams they'd have to jump just to land a Wild Card spot to begin with.

Whether the Padres buy or sell, these are three players I believe will remain with the club the rest of this season, but won't be back in 2024.